Factual Specials

The Space Shuttle’s Last Flight

As Atlantis completes its 135th and final mission, this definitive documentary charts the rise and fall of the most ambitious space programme ever undertaken: the Space Shuttle.

For three decades from its first launch in 1981, the shuttle became an iconic symbol of America’s technological dominance, while at the same time rewriting the rules of space travel. But two disasters, in 1986 and 2003, and the tragic loss of 14 astronauts, shocked the world, and signalled the end of an era.

While exploring the reasons behind the Space Shuttle programme’s ultimate demise this documentary special also celebrates the astonishing achievements of a space-travelling icon. In 30 years of service, the shuttle has flown more miles, completed more missions and put more men and women in orbit than any other spacecraft in history. It has transformed our understanding of the universe, aided technological advancement and enabled us to study the environmental impact we have had on our planet.